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Abstract:

Disclosed is a molding device for a machine for manufacturing containers,
including: two half-molds; two mold carriers, each of which is provided
with a recess for receiving a corresponding half-mold; and at least one
retractable attachment bolt that is slidably mounted in at least one mold
carrier between an operative position, in which the bolt is extended to
removably attach the corresponding half-mold in a clampingly mounted
position against the back wall of the corresponding recess, and a
retracted position, in which the bolt releases the half-mold,
characterized in that each bolt and/or the corresponding half-mold
include a clamping strip that is angled so as to cause the half-mold to
bear against the back wall of the recess during the sliding of the
attachment bolt from the retracted position thereof to the operative
position thereof.

Claims:

1. Molding device (10) for a machine for producing thermoplastic material
containers, notably bottles, by blowing or drawing-blowing a preform, the
molding device (10) including: two half-molds (14) each of which is
provided with a half-imprint (16) and each of which includes a front
joint face (18) and a rear face (20); two mold-carriers (32) each of
which is provided with a recess (38) intended to receive an associated
half-mold (14) in a mounted position in which the rear face (20) of the
half-mold (14) is in contact with the bottom (40) of the recess (38); and
at least one retractable fixing bolt (58) that is slidably mounted in at
least one mold-carrier (32) to slide between an active position in which
it is extended to fix in demountable manner the associated half-mold (14)
in the mounted position clamped against the bottom (40) of the associated
recess (38) by at least one locking face (60) of each fixing bolt (58)
bearing against an associated fixing face (56) of the half-mold (14), and
a retracted position in which it releases the half-mold (14), each fixing
bolt (58) includes a clamping ramp (74) that is inclined in such a manner
as to press the half-mold (14) against the bottom (40) of the recess (38)
on sliding of said fixing bolt (58) from its retracted position to its
active position, characterized in that the recess (38) has an entry in a
transverse plane that is delimited transversely by a vertical first edge
(44) and a vertical second edge (46), and in that each fixing bolt (58)
is mounted to slide transversely between its active position in which
said fixing bolt (58) projects through the entry of the recess (38) and
its retracted position in which it is completely retracted relative to
the entry of the recess (38).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding of
each fixing bolt (58) is driven by drive means integrated into the
mold-carrier (32).

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive
means include: at least one vertical transmission shaft (76) that is
rotatably mounted in the mold-carrier (32); and means (80, 82) for
transforming rotation movement of the transmission shaft (76) into
sliding movement of at least one fixing bolt (58).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the
transmission shaft (76) is connected to at least one fixing bolt (58) by
a cam mechanism (80, 82) that transforms rotation movement of the
transmission shaft (76) into sliding movement of said fixing bolt (58).

5. Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the
transmission shaft (76) is connected to said fixing bolt (58) by a cam
and frame mechanism (80, 82).

6. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the
transmission shaft (76) includes a pinion that cooperates with a rack of
the fixing bolt (58) to drive sliding of the fixing bolt (58).

7. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the
transmission shaft (76) is a cranked shaft that is articulated to the
fixing bolt (58) by a link for transforming rotation movement of the
transmission shaft (76) into sliding movement of the fixing bolt (58).

8. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive
means include at least one handle (84) that is intended to be actuated
manually by an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt (58) between
its two positions.

9. Device according claim 8, characterized in that each handle (84) is
formed by an arm that is orthogonal to the transmission shaft (76) and is
fixed to one end of the associated transmission shaft (76).

10. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes
at least two fixing bolts (58) that are slidably mounted at the border of
the first edge (44) of the entry of the recess (38).

11. Device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that sliding of
all the fixing bolts (58) of the first edge (44) is driven by a common
first transmission shaft (76).

12. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes
at least one lug (52) for locking the half-mold (14) in the mounted
position that is carried in fixed manner by the mold-carrier (32) at the
border of the opposite second edge (46) of the entry of the recess (38).

13. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes
at least two other retractable fixing bolts (58) that are slidably
mounted at the border of the opposite second edge (46) of the entry of
the recess (38).

14. Device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that sliding of
all the fixing bolts (58) of the second edge (46) is driven by a common
second transmission shaft (76).

15. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one
fixing bolt (58) is formed by a ball.

16. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a
safety device (90) that locks the fixing bolts (58) in their active
position.

17. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive
means include at least one handle (84) that is intended to be actuated
manually by an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt (58) between
its two positions.

18. Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive
means include at least one handle (84) that is intended to be actuated
manually by an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt (58) between
its two positions.

19. Device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive
means include at least one handle (84) that is intended to be actuated
manually by an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt (58) between
its two positions.

20. Device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive
means include at least one handle (84) that is intended to be actuated
manually by an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt (58) between
its two positions.

Description:

[0001] The present invention concerns a molding device for a machine for
producing containers, notably bottles.

[0002] The present invention more particularly concerns a molding device
for a machine for producing containers, notably bottles, in thermoplastic
material by blowing or drawing-blowing a preform, the molding device
including: [0003] two half-molds each of which is provided with a
half-imprint and each of which includes a front joint face and a rear
face; [0004] two mold-carriers each of which is provided with a recess
intended to receive an associated half-mold in a mounted position in
which the rear face of the half-mold is in contact with the bottom of the
recess; and [0005] at least one retractable fixing bolt that is slidably
mounted in at least one mold-carrier to slide between an active position
in which it is extended to fix in demountable manner the associated
half-mold in the mounted position clamped against the bottom of the
associated recess by at least one locking face of each fixing bolt
bearing against an associated fixing face of the half-mold, and a
retracted position in which it releases the half-mold.

[0006] There are known in the prior art molding devices intended to equip
machines for producing containers, notably but not exclusively so-called
"rotary machines" including a carousel provided circumferentially with a
particular number of identical blowing stations.

[0007] Plastic material containers, such as bottles, flasks, etc. are
produced therein from preforms or blanks pre-heated in a heat treatment
oven. Depending on the number of imprints in the molds, one or more
preforms are fed in this way to a station of the machine to be inserted
into a molding device with which blowing or drawing-blowing means are
associated.

[0008] Such molding devices include at least one mold constituted of two
half-molds supported by respective mold-carriers that are mounted to be
mobile relative to each other.

[0009] Each half-mold is generally fixed to an associated mold-carrier in
a removable manner by fixing means in order to enable demounting for a
change of mold, in particular to proceed to the production of containers
of different shapes and/or different sizes or to replace them in the
event of damage to and/or wear of the half-molds.

[0010] To reduce production costs as much as the time necessary for such
demounting of the mold, various improvements to the molding devices are
already proposed in the document EP-B1-0 821 641.

[0011] According to the teachings of the above document, means for
regulating the temperature of the imprints of each half-mold are produced
in a part (called the shell-carrier in the above document) separate from
the half-mold (called a shell in the above document). The shell-carrier
is intended to be fixed permanently to the mold-carrier, whereas the
half-mold provided with the half-imprint is adapted to be removably
fastened to the shell-carrier by fast fixing means. This configuration
enables a light half-mold to be produced that is easily manipulated by a
single operator.

[0012] The means for fixing the half-mold onto the mold-carrier are
disposed on respective edges of the half-mold and the shell-carrier that
are parallel to the main axis of the imprint. These fixing means include
in particular a locking lug mounted on the mold-carrier in a fixed or
mobile manner projecting over the joint face of the half-mold to fix the
half-mold firmly to the shell-carrier. The half-mold is clamped against
the bottom of the recess by fast screwing of the locking lugs onto a
joint face of the mold-carrier.

[0013] With the fixing means known in the art, the mounting and demounting
operations are carried out by at least one operator and require the use
of tools, such as screwdrivers, to demount the fixing bar with the
mold-carriers in the open position.

[0014] The document WO-A-2007/012308 proposes to clamp the half-mold
against the bottom of the recess by means of a set of springs that are
interleaved between a drive element and a base element that carries the
locking lugs. The movement of the control element enables, over a first
part of its travel, driving of the movement of the locking lugs between a
retracted position and an active position, and then, over a second part
of its travel, clamping of the locking lugs in the active position
against the half-mold by way of the springs.

[0015] Such fixing and clamping means nevertheless include numerous moving
parts. These fixing means are therefore complex and costly to
manufacture.

[0016] Furthermore, the drive means proposed in the above document
necessitate the use and manipulation of a tool by the operator carrying
out the mounting operation.

[0017] The aim is therefore to reduce further the time necessary for
mounting and demounting the half-molds in such a manner as to reduce
further the intervention time, by means of fast fixing means that are
simple and of relatively low cost to manufacture.

[0018] To this end, the invention proposes a molding device of the type
described above characterized in that each fixing bolt and/or the
associated half-mold includes a clamping ramp that is inclined in such a
manner as to press the half-mold against the bottom of the recess on
sliding of said fixing bolt from its retracted position to its active
position.

[0019] According to other features of the invention: [0020] each fixing
bolt and/or the associated half-mold includes a clamping ramp that is
inclined in such a manner as to press the half-mold against the bottom of
the recess on sliding of said fixing bolt from its retracted position to
its active position; [0021] the recess has an entry in a transverse plane
that is delimited transversely by a vertical first edge and a vertical
second edge; [0022] each fixing bolt is mounted to slide transversely
between its active position in which said fixing bolt projects through
the entry of the recess and its retracted position in which it is
completely retracted relative to the entry of the recess; [0023] the
sliding of each fixing bolt is driven by driving means integrated into
the mold-carrier; [0024] the drive means include at least one vertical
transmission shaft that is rotatably mounted in the mold-carrier and said
drive means include means for transforming the rotation movement of the
transmission shaft into sliding movement of at least one fixing bolt;
[0025] the transmission shaft is connected to at least one fixing bolt by
a cam mechanism that transforms rotation movement of the transmission
shaft into sliding movement of said fixing bolt; [0026] the transmission
shaft is connected to said fixing bolt by a cam and frame mechanism;
[0027] the transmission shaft includes a pinion that cooperates with a
rack of the fixing bolt to drive sliding of the fixing bolt; [0028] the
transmission shaft is a cranked shaft that is articulated to the fixing
bolt by a link for transforming rotation movement of the transmission
shaft into sliding movement of the fixing bolt; [0029] the drive means
include at least one handle that is intended to be actuated manually by
an operator to drive sliding of each fixing bolt between its two
positions; [0030] each handle is formed by an arm that is orthogonal to
the transmission shaft and is fixed to one end of the associated
transmission shaft; [0031] the molding device includes at least two
fixing bolts that are slidably mounted at the border of the first edge of
the entry of the recess; [0032] sliding of all the fixing bolts of the
first edge is driven by a common first transmission shaft; [0033] the
molding device includes at least one lug for locking the half-mold in the
mounted position that is carried in fixed manner by the mold-carrier at
the border of the opposite second edge of the entry of the recess; [0034]
the molding device includes at least two other retractable fixing bolts
that are slidably mounted at the border of the opposite second edge of
the entry of the recess; [0035] sliding of all the fixing bolts of the
second edge is driven by a common second transmission shaft; [0036] at
least one fixing bolt is formed by a ball; [0037] the molding device
includes a safety device that locks the fixing bolts in their active
position.

[0038] Other features and advantages will become apparent on reading the
following detailed description, to understand which reference should be
made to the appended drawings, in which:

[0039]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blowing device produced
according to the teachings of the invention and including two
mold-carriers provided with their half-mold, the mold-carriers being in
the open position;

[0040]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the two half-molds from FIG. 1
in a separated position;

[0041]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the two half-molds from FIG. 2
in a joined position;

[0042]FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the two
mold-carriers in a closed position;

[0043]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mold-carrier including a
controlled fixing device in its retracted position and a half-mold in a
demounted position;

[0044]FIG. 6 is a front view showing the mold-carrier from FIG. 5 and in
which the half-mold is mounted and fixed;

[0045]FIG. 7 is a view in section taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6
showing a fixing bolt in its active position;

[0046]FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing the half-mold
mounted in but not fixed to the mold-carrier, the fixing device being
retracted;

[0047]FIG. 9 is a view in section taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8
showing the fixing bolt in its retracted position;

[0048] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a transmission
shaft of the drive means of the fixing device and a border bar of the
mold-carrier in which it is to be mounted;

[0049]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view that shows the shaft
mounted in the border bar, the bolts to be slidably mounted in the border
bar and the screws fixing the border bar to the mold-carrier; and

[0050]FIG. 12 is a view in section taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 1
showing a safety device that locks the bolts in the active position.

[0051] In the remainder of the description, elements having similar,
analogous or identical functions are designated by the same reference
numbers.

[0052] In the remainder of the description, there are adopted without this
being limiting on the invention longitudinal, vertical and transverse
orientations for each mold-carrier 32 indicated by the orthogonal frame
of reference "L,V,T" for the first mold-carrier 32 on the left in FIG. 1
and "L',V,T" for the second mold-carrier on the right in FIG. 2. Thus the
transverse directions "T" and "T" and the longitudinal directions "L" and
"L" are fixed relative to each mold-carrier 34. For each mold-carrier 32,
the longitudinal direction "L", "L" is oriented from the rear toward the
front in the direction of the other mold-carrier 32 when the
mold-carriers 32 are in the closed position.

[0053] The terms "interior", respectively "exterior" are adopted to
designate a face or a direction facing toward the interior, respectively
exterior of the recess 38 of a mold-carrier.

[0054] There is shown in FIG. 1 a molding device 10 for a machine (not
shown) for production of thermoplastic material containers, in particular
bottles, by blowing or drawing-blowing a pre-heated preform.

[0055] The molding device 10 shown in FIG. 1 nevertheless constitutes only
one nonlimiting embodiment of the type of molding device 10 to which
fixing means produced according to the teachings of the invention may be
applied.

[0056] The molding device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is more particularly intended
to equip a station of a "rotary" type production machine, i.e. one
generally including a carousel at the circumference of which are disposed
stations each comprising a molding device 10 associated with blowing or
drawing-blowing means, also known as blowing nozzles.

[0057] Nevertheless, the fixing means of the invention may equally well be
used in a production machine of linear (and not rotary) type.

[0058] See for example the document FR-A-2-764 544 for more details of
blowing or drawing-blowing means.

[0059] As may be seen in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the molding device 10
includes at least one mold 12 constituted of two half-molds 14 that are
mirror images or each other with respect to their joint plane. Here the
mold 12 has a cylindrical shape divided axially into two parts to form
each half-mold 14.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, each half-mold 14 includes a half-imprint 16 of
the final container recessed into a front joint face 18. Here the joint
face 18 is a plane vertical transverse face that is formed by the section
face of the cylinder forming the mold 12.

[0061] The half-molds 14 are adapted to occupy a separated position, as
shown in FIG. 2, in which the two half-molds 14 are spaced from each
other, and a joined position, as shown in FIG. 3, in which the two
half-molds 14 are joined together at their joint face 18 to form the mold
12.

[0062] Each half-mold 14 further includes a rear face 20 opposite the
joint face 18 and having the overall shape of a circular half-cylinder
substantially coaxial with the vertical main axis "X" of the imprint 16
of the container.

[0063] Each half-mold 14 has two vertically oriented rectilinear edges 22
at the junction between its joint face 18 and its rear face 20.

[0064] In the joined position, the mold 12 has a circular horizontal upper
face 24 with a central opening 26 adapted to enable entry of the blowing
air, or even of a drawing rod.

[0065] The upper face 24 of each half-mold 14 is preferably formed by two
separate plates 28 each of which is firmly attached to a half-mold 14.
The lower end of a nozzle (not shown) comprising the blowing or
drawing-blowing means is adapted to come into contact with the upper face
24 formed by the two plates 28.

[0066] The half-molds 14 further include in their upper part, just below
the horizontal upper face, an annular groove 30 that extends
circumferentially and continuously around the two half-molds 14 when they
are joined.

[0067] If the container to be produced has a bottom of complex shape, in
particular a petal shape, problems are likely to arise with removal from
the mold.

[0068] It is for this reason that there is then advantageously provided a
separate mold bottom (not shown), separate from the half-molds 14, said
mold bottom including an imprint of the bottom of the container
complementary to the half-imprints 16.

[0069] Each half-mold 14 is intended to be demountably fixed to an
associated mold-carrier 32 of the molding device 10. Such mold-carriers
32 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0070] The two mold-carriers 32 are mounted to be mobile relative to each
other between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, in which the two
half-molds 14 are joined to form the imprint 16, and an open position, as
shown in FIG. 1, in which the two half-molds 14 are separated, for
example to enable extraction of a container after blowing.

[0071] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the mold-carriers 32 are
constituted in the form of two carrier structures articulated about a
common hinge 34 with a vertical pivot axis "O". The hinge 34 is generally
carried by a bracket (not shown) that is fixed relative to the carousel.

[0072] The mold-carriers 32 are then able to move apart from each other by
pivoting about the axis "O" and are consequently mounted to pivot between
their open position (FIG. 1) and their closed position (FIG. 4).

[0073] As shown in FIG. 1, when the mold-carriers 32 are opened from their
closed position, they begin to move away from each other in a rearwardly
oriented longitudinal opening direction that is orthogonal to the joint
face 18 of the half-molds 14.

[0074] Because of the kinematics of the mold-carriers 32, such a molding
device 10 is referred to as a "book-like opening" mold.

[0075] In a variant of the invention that is not shown, the molding device
includes two mold-carriers mounted to be mobile in translation relative
to each other in a longitudinal direction between an open position and a
closed position.

[0076] The molding device 10 further includes a lock 36 that is
transversely disposed diametrically opposite the hinge 34 relative to the
vertical axis "X" of the imprint 16, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0077] This kind of lock 36 is also known in the art and is therefore not
described in more detail here. This lock 36 has the notable function of
preventing any inopportune opening during blowing, where the pressures
may reach 40 bars, depending on the application.

[0078] For fuller details on the structure and operation of such a lock
36, see for example the document FR-A-2 646 802, which includes a general
description of a similar lock.

[0079] The mold-carriers 32 and the half-molds 14 being substantially
mirror images of each other with respect to the joint plane of the
mold-carrier 32, there is described hereinafter only the mold 12 situated
on the left in FIG. 1, the description being applicable to the other by
reason of their symmetry.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 5, the half-mold 14 is more particularly adapted
to be received in a recess 38 of the associated mold-carrier 32 to occupy
a mounted position.

[0081] The molding device 10 includes fixing means that are adapted to fix
each half-mold 14 demountably in the mounted position in the recess 38 of
the associated mold-carrier 32. These means are described in more detail
hereinafter.

[0082] The recess 38 is delimited longitudinally toward the rear by a
concave bottom 40 of semi-cylindrical shape complementary to the rear
face 20 of the half-mold 14.

[0083] Moreover, the recess 38 is delimited in the vertically upward
direction by the lower face of a rim 42 that extends radially inward,
projecting relative to the bottom 40 of the recess 38. The groove 30 in
the half-mold 14 is adapted to be nested longitudinally with this rim 42
to enable vertical positioning and retention of the half-mold 14 relative
to the mold-carrier 32.

[0084] The entry of the recess 38 is furthermore delimited transversely on
the one hand by a first vertical edge 44 and on the other hand by a
second vertical edge 46. The edge 46 situated in the vicinity of the
hinge 34 is referred to as the proximal edge and the edge 44 farther away
from the hinge 34 is referred to as the distal edge.

[0085] Each of the distal and proximal edges 44, 46, respectively, of the
recess 38 is bordered by a distal vertical border bar 45, a proximal
vertical border bar 47, respectively, that is fixedly attached to the
structure of the mold-carrier 32 by rigid fixing means such as screws 48.
Each border bar 45, 47 has a rectangular or square contour horizontal
section.

[0086] Each border bar 45, 47 is in particular delimited longitudinally by
a vertical transverse front mating face 50, visible in FIG. 5, and by a
vertical transverse rear contact face 51, visible in FIG. 10, by which it
is fixed to the mold-carrier 32. Each border bar 45, 47 is also delimited
transversely by two lateral faces 53 respectively interior and exterior
relative to the recess 38.

[0087] The mating face 50 of each border bar 45, 47 is intended to come
into plane contact with the mating face 50 of a facing border bar 45, 47
of the other mold-carrier 32 when the mold-carriers 32 in their closed
position. In the mounted position of the half-mold 14, its joint face 18
is substantially coplanar with the mating faces 50 of the border bars 45,
47 that border the recess 38, as is particularly visible in FIG. 1.

[0088] Moreover, the mold-carrier 32 is provided with means (not shown)
for regulating the temperature of the imprint 16 that are formed by
conduits formed in the thickness of the bottom 40 of the recess 38 and in
which a heat-exchange fluid circulates.

[0089] After fixing the half-mold 14 in its mounted position in the
mold-carrier 32, the rear face 20 of the half-mold 14 and the bottom 40
of the recess 38 of the mold-carrier 32 are in clamped contact, pressed
against each other. Accordingly, the transmission of heat between the
half-mold 14 and the mold-carrier 32 is obtained by conduction between
the rear face 20 of the half-mold 14 and the bottom 40 of the recess 38.

[0090] The molding device 10 includes fixing means adapted to fix each
half-mold 14 occupying a mounted position in a demountable manner to the
mold-carrier 32. These fixing means are also adapted to clamp the
half-mold 14 against the bottom 40 of the associated recess 38 of the
mold-carrier 32 to press the rear face 20 of the half-mold 14 against the
bottom 40 of the recess 38. Thus there remains no air film liable to
insulate the half-mold 14 thermally from the mold-carrier 32.

[0091] The fixing means for only one module-carrier 32 are described
hereinafter, the fixing means for the other mold-carrier 32 being
identical.

[0092] The fixing means are at least in part controllable. In the example
shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the controllable fixing means are disposed only
at the border of the distal edge 44 of the recess 38, the other, proximal
edge 46 being equipped with passive fixing means.

[0093] In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the passive fixing means
include at least one lug 52 for locking the half-mold 14 in the mounted
position that is carried in fixed manner by the mold-carrier 32 at the
border of the proximal edge 46.

[0094] Here there are three locking lugs 52 distributed along the proximal
edge 46 of the recess 38. They project transversely inward relative to
the proximal edge 46 of the bottom 40 of the recess 38.

[0095] Moreover, as seen clearly in FIG. 1, the locking lugs 52 are flush
with or longitudinally set back rearwardly relative to the joint face 18
of the half-mold 14 in the mounted position in order to prevent any
interference on closing the mold 12.

[0096] Each locking lug 52 is intended to be received in a rebate 54
produced in the corresponding edge 22 of the half-mold 14. The locking
lugs 52 are more particularly intended to be pressed longitudinally
against a transverse vertical front fixing face 56 of the half-mold 14 in
the bottom of the rebate 54.

[0097] In known manner, the locking lugs 52 are all carried by the common
proximal border bar 47, sometimes referred to as the "black bar". The
proximal border bar 47 is permanently fixed to the mold-carrier 32, for
example by means of screws 48. These locking lugs 52 are thus intended to
remain in place during operations of changing the half-mold 14.

[0098] The controllable fixing means include at least one fixing bolt 58
that is mounted in the mold-carrier 32 to be mobile between: [0099] an
active position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which it is extended to
fix in demountable manner the half-mold 14 in its mounted position and
clamped against the bottom 40 of the associated recess 38 by at least one
locking face 60 of each fixing bolt 58 bearing against an associated
fixing face 56 of the half-mold 14; and [0100] a retracted position in
which the fixing bolt 58 frees the entry of the recess 38 to enable the
half-mold 14 to pass.

[0101] As for the locking lugs 52, in its active position, each fixing
bolt 58 is set back longitudinally toward the rear relative to, or at
least flush with, the joint face 18 of the half-mold 14.

[0102] Moreover, each fixing bolt 58 is advantageously mounted to be
mobile in such a manner as not to project longitudinally toward the front
beyond the joint face 18 of the half-mold 14 at any point on its
trajectory between its two positions. This enables driven movement of the
fixing bolt 58 even when the mold-carriers 32 are in their closed
position.

[0103] A free interior transverse end section 62 of each fixing bolt 58 is
intended to be received in an associated rebate 54 produced in the
corresponding edge 22 of the half-mold 14 when the half-mold 14 is in its
mounted position. The vertical transverse bottom of each rebate 54 forms
a fixing face 56 of the half-mold 14.

[0104] Alternatively, the rebate is replaced by a mortise produced in the
half-mold.

[0105] The mold-carrier 32 includes at least two fixing bolts 58 at the
border of the distal edge 44 of the entry of the recess 38. Here there
are three fixing bolts 58 distributed along the distal edge 44 of the
entry of the recess 38.

[0106] All the fixing bolts 58 look identical in the embodiment shown in
the figures. Therefore only one fixing bolt 58 is described hereinafter.

[0107] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the fixing bolt 58 has a globally
parallelepipedal shape here. It is delimited longitudinally by a plane
rear vertical face forming the locking face 60 and by a plane front
vertical face 64.

[0108] As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, each fixing bolt 58 is more
particularly mounted to slide transversely in an associated bolt passage
66 produced in the first distal border bar 45 that opens transversely at
least in the direction of the interior of the recess 38.

[0109] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, each bolt passage 66 is
delimited vertically by two horizontal guide faces 68 and longitudinally
toward the front by a front guide face 70. To facilitate mounting the
fixing bolts 58, as explained hereinafter, the bolt passage 66 opens into
the rear contact face 51 of the distal border bar 45.

[0110] Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the fixing bolt 58 is also
guided as it slides transversely by a vertical rear face 72 of the
mold-carrier 32 in the vertical transverse plane of the entry of the
recess 38. Thus each fixing bolt 58 slides on the border of the distal
edge 44 of the entry of the recess 38.

[0111] In its active position (FIG. 7), the fixing bolt 58 projects
transversely relative to the associated distal edge 44 of the entry of
the recess 38. In its retracted position (FIG. 9) the fixing bolt 58 is
totally retracted relative to said distal edge 44 of the entry of the
recess 38.

[0112] When the half-mold 14 has been mounted in but not yet fixed to the
recess 38, each fixing face 56 of the half-mold 14 on the distal side is
slightly longitudinally forward of the locking face 60 of the fixing bolt
58.

[0113] As may be seen particularly in FIGS. 7 and 9, each fixing bolt 58
includes a clamping ramp 74 that is inclined in such a manner as to press
the associated fixing face 56 in the direction of the bottom 40 of the
recess 38 when said fixing bolt 58 slides from its retracted position to
its active position. Accordingly, each distal side fixing face 56 of the
half-mold 14 is then slightly set back longitudinally toward the rear in
such a manner as to be pressed against the locking face 60 of the fixing
bolt 58.

[0114] The clamping ramp 74 is formed by a bevel formed in the interior
transverse vertical edge at the edge of the locking face 60. Here the
clamping ramp 74 has a rounded appearance.

[0115] Alternatively, the clamping ramp is carried by the half-mold.

[0116] In another variant of the invention, not shown, the bolt and the
half-mold are both equipped with an associated clamping ramp. The two
ramps then cooperate by sliding on each other to clamp the half-mold to
the bottom of the recess.

[0117] Moreover, the sliding of each fixing bolt 58 is driven by drive
means that are integrated into the mold-carrier 32.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 10, the drive means include a vertical
transmission shaft 76 that is rotatably mounted in the mold-carrier 32.
Here the transmission shaft 76 is received in a vertical hole 78 produced
in the upper end of the distal border bar 45. The vertical hole thus
forms a bearing 78 to enable the transmission shaft 76 to turn about a
vertical rotation axis "Y".

[0119] Sliding of all the fixing bolts 58 of the distal edge 44 is driven
by the common transmission shaft 76. To this end, the bearing 78 crosses
the three bolt passages 66 and opens onto the horizontal guide faces 68
on either side of the front guide face 70.

[0120] The transmission shaft 76 is connected to each fixing bolt 58 by a
cam mechanism that transforms rotation movement of the transmission shaft
76 into sliding movement of the fixing bolts 58. To be more precise, the
transmission shaft 76 is here connected to each fixing bolt 58 by a
so-called "cam and frame" mechanism.

[0121] Thus the transmission shaft 76 includes three cams 80 that are
formed by three circular cylindrical sections with a vertical axis that
are arranged eccentrically relative to the rotation axis "Y" of the
transmission shaft 76. These cams 80 are therefore referred to
hereinafter as "eccentric sections 80".

[0122] The eccentric sections 80 are arranged to coincide with the bolt
passages 66 when the transmission shaft 76 is mounted by inserting it
into its bearing 78, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0123] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, each eccentric section 80 here has a
diameter that coincides in size and in position with a radius of the
transmission shaft 76.

[0124] Each fixing bolt 58 has in its front face 64 a vertical groove 82
opening vertically at each end that is intended to receive a
corresponding eccentric section 80 of the transmission shaft 76. This is
shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 and 9, for example.

[0125] The groove 82 more specifically has a transverse width
substantially equal to the diameter of the eccentric section 80 and a
longitudinal depth that allows longitudinal sliding of the eccentric
section 80 in the groove 82 during rotation of the transmission shaft 76
through at least one half-turn.

[0126] The transmission shaft 76 is thus connected to each fixing bolt 58
by a cam and frame mechanism that transforms rotation movement of the
transmission shaft 76 into transverse sliding movement of the fixing
bolts 58. Rotation of the transmission shaft 76 also drives retraction
and deployment of the fixing bolt 58 between its two positions.

[0127] In a variant of the invention that is not shown, the means for
transforming rotation movement of the shaft into sliding movement of the
fixing bolt are formed by a pinion carried by the shaft that cooperates
with a rack constrained to slide with the fixing bolt to drive the
sliding of the fixing bolt.

[0128] In another variant of the invention that is not shown, the
transmission shaft is a cranked shaft that is articulated to the fixing
bolt via a link to transform rotation movement of the shaft into sliding
movement of the fixing bolt.

[0129] According to a further variant of the invention that is not shown,
the shaft carries a cam that actively drives sliding movement of the bolt
towards one position, the bolt being spring-loaded toward its other
position.

[0130] Moreover, the drive means are intended here to be operated manually
by an operator without using an individual tool. To this end, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 8, for example, the drive means include at least one handle
84 that is intended to be operated manually by an operator to drive
sliding of each fixing bolt 58 between its two positions.

[0131] Here the handle 84 is formed by an arm that extends orthogonally to
the transmission shaft 76 and is fixed to the upper end of the
transmission shaft 76 so that it is constrained to rotate about the
vertical rotation axis "Y" with the transmission shaft 76. To this end,
the upper end of the transmission shaft 76 projects from the vertical
hole 78 in the distal border bar 45.

[0132] The arm forming the handle 84 is above an upper face of the
mold-carrier 32.

[0133] The arm forming the handle 84 is sufficiently long to enable the
operator to apply by hand a torque necessary for clamping the half-mold
14 to the bottom 40 of the recess 38. The torque is also sufficient to
overcome the friction of the locking face 60 of each fixing bolt 58
against the associated fixing face 56 of the half-mold 14 when the fixing
bolts 58 are retracted to demount the half-mold 14.

[0134] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, an indexing finger 86 extends
vertically downward under the arm forming the handle 84. The indexing
finger 86 is adapted to abut against a vertical shoulder face 88 of the
mold-carrier 32 when the fixing bolts 58 are in their active position.
The operator who operates the locking device is thus informed by the
contact of the indexing finger 86 with the shoulder face 88 that the
fixing bolts 58 are in their active position.

[0135] Thus in the active position of the bolts the arm forming the handle
84 is pushed above the mold-carrier 32 in such a manner as to be
accessible even when the mold-carriers 32 are in their closed position.
As shown in FIG. 6, in this position the arm forming the handle 84 does
not project radially outwards relative to the exterior contour of the
mold-carrier 32.

[0136] Alternatively, and referring to FIG. 4, the end of the arm that is
fixed to the transmission shaft is conformed in such a manner that that
the shaft may be turned toward the retracted position of the fixing bolts
even in the closed position of the mold-carrier. Said end of the arm is
of semicircular shape, for example, which enables the transmission shaft
to turn without interfering with the arm of the other mold-carrier.

[0137] To prevent the drive means being triggered inopportunely when the
half-mold 14 is fixed to the mold-carrier 32, it includes a safety device
for locking the fixing bolts 58 in their active position.

[0138] Here the locking device is formed by a vertical axis peg 90 that is
mounted on the arm forming the handle 84 of the transmission shaft 76.
The peg 90 is more particularly mounted to slide vertically in the
indexing finger 86 between a low position in which it may be inserted
into a complementary locking orifice 92 of the mold-carrier 32 when the
fixing bolts 58 are in their active position and a high position in which
the peg 90 is completely extracted from the locking orifice 92.

[0139] Moreover, the upper end of the peg 90 is connected to a button 94
that enables the operator to pull the peg 90 toward its high position to
enable the transmission shaft 76 to be turned in such a manner as to
drive the fixing bolts 58 toward their retracted position.

[0140] The peg 90 is advantageously spring-loaded into its low position in
order to automate the safety device, for example by a spring (not shown)
that is placed around the peg 90, in a cylindrical internal chamber of
the finger 86. The spring bears on the one hand on a lower internal wall
of the finger and on the other hand on a lower wall of the button 94.

[0141] The mold-carrier 32 further includes an inclined plane 96 that is
disposed on the trajectory of the peg 90 on rotation of the transmission
shaft 76 toward the active position of the fixing bolts 58. This inclined
plane 96 enables the peg 90 to be driven automatically toward its high
position on rotation of the transmission shaft 76 toward the active
position of the fixing bolts 58. Accordingly, the lower free end of the
peg 90 is able to slide automatically along the inclined plane 96 and
then a horizontal plane as far as the locking orifice 92 in which it is
spring-loaded into its low position.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 10, on mounting the controllable fixing means on
the mold-carrier 32, the distal border bar 45 is demounted from the
mold-carrier 32. The transmission shaft 76 is first inserted vertically
into the bearing 78 of the distal border bar 45 until the arm forming the
handle 84 comes into abutment.

[0143] The fixing bolts 58 are then inserted longitudinally into the bolt
passages 66 opening onto the rear contact face 51, before the distal
border bar 45 is fixed to the mold-carrier 32 by the fixing screws 48.
This operation is shown in FIG. 11. The fixing bolts 58 are therefore
trapped in their bolt passage 66 by interengagement with the eccentric
sections 80.

[0144] The shanks of said screws 48 also cooperate with annular grooves 98
of the transmission shaft 76, visible in FIG. 10, to retain the
transmission shaft 76 vertically in position in the distal border bar 45.

[0145] During an operation to change the mold 12, the operator proceeds
first to demount a first mold 12.

[0146] The operator first moves the mold-carriers 32 equipped with a first
mold 12 apart into their open position.

[0147] The operator then grasps the arm forming the handle 84 of the
controllable fixing device by pulling on the peg 90 so as to be able to
turn the transmission shaft 76 in a first anticlockwise unlocking
direction.

[0148] The fixing bolt 58 being in its active position, as shown in FIG.
7, the anticlockwise rotation of the transmission shaft 76 presses the
eccentric section 80 against the external wall of the groove 82, thereby
causing the fixing bolt 58 to slide transversely toward its retracted
position.

[0149] During sliding of the fixing bolt 58, because of the depth of the
groove 82 the eccentric section 80 slides longitudinally relative to the
fixing bolt 58 without acting longitudinally on the fixing bolt 58.

[0150] The transmission shaft 76 and its arm forming the handle 84 are
then in the position shown in FIG. 8. The fixing bolts 58 are therefore
in their retracted position.

[0151] The half-mold 14 of the first mold 12 to be changed being released
and loosened, the operator grasps the half-mold 14 to remove it by a
first pivoting movement about its vertical axis "X" to disengage the
half-mold 14 from the fixed locking lugs 52 and then movement in
longitudinal translation in the forward direction of the half-mold 14
that has been pivoted in this manner.

[0152] The half-mold 14 of the replacement second mold 12 is then mounted
on the mold-carrier 32 by the reverse movements of translation and then
pivoting.

[0153] As each fixing bolt 58 slides from its retracted position toward
its active position, the transmission shaft 76 is turned clockwise in
such a manner that the eccentric section 80 bears on the interior wall of
the groove 82 to cause each fixing bolt 58 to slide.

[0154] The clamping ramp 74 enables the rear face 20 of the half-mold 14
to be clamped against the bottom 40 of the recess 38, after which the
blocking face 60 enables clamping.

[0155] During this operation, the peg 90 is automatically driven into its
high position by the inclined plane 96. The peg 90 is then returned by
spring means into its low position in the locking orifice 92 when the
indexing finger 86 abuts against the shoulder face 88 of the mold-carrier
32. The fixing bolts 58 are then in their active position.

[0156] Thus the operator is able to mount and demount a half-mold 14
simply and quickly, without using additional tools.

[0157] In a variant of the invention that is not shown the rotation of the
shaft is driven automatically by motorized means.

[0158] In another variant of the invention that is not shown, the locking
lugs of the proximal edge of the entry of the recess are replaced by
locking means with retractable bolts similar to the means just described
for the distal edge. Sliding of all the fixing bolts of the proximal edge
is advantageously driven by a common second transmission shaft.

[0159] In this latter variant, the recess of the mold-carrier is
advantageously designed so that the half-mold is mounted in and demounted
from its recess by a single movement in translation parallel to the
opening of the mold formed by the two half-molds, here by a longitudinal
movement. Thus the two edges of the recess are released simultaneously by
the fixing bolts. It is then no longer necessary to pivot the half-mold
14 when mounting and demounting it.

[0160] In a further variant of the invention that is not shown, each bolt
is formed by a trapped ball mobile in the bolt passage 66. Thus only a
dome portion of the ball projects from the bolt passage when the bolt is
in its active position.